Everything Everywhere Smart Signal is shared

Mobile devices seamlessly switch 3G signal from Orange or T-Mobile network to ensure customers get fast 3G in even more places

Everything Everywhere, the UK's biggest communications company, has completed the final stage of the 'big switch on', Orange and T-Mobile's signal sharing project. Smart Signal Sharing will mean that if a customer's smartphone, tablet or dongle 3G signal starts to fade, it will automatically and seamlessly prioritise signal from the other network. This means customers will get access to fast, uninterrupted 3G in more places, more of the time.

The final stage of the switch on ensures that if a customer's 3G signal drops to a point at which performance may be impacted &ndash; around one bar of signal &ndash; their device will automatically switch to available 3G signal on either network.

If no 3G coverage is available, all Orange and T-Mobile devices will seamlessly switch to 2G signals and back on to 3G when either network comes back into range, even if a customer is downloading a page on the internet.

The first stage of Everything Everywhere's Big Switch On launched in October 2010, and allowed Orange and T-Mobile customers to share 2G signal to make calls and send texts in more places. 3G sharing was then introduced in October 2011.

Olaf Swantee, CEO of Everything Everywhere, said: 'Smart Signal Sharing marks the completion of the Orange and T-Mobile signal integration project, which provides our 27.5 million customers with the widest 2G and 3G coverage available in Britain today. The launch is yet another proof point to our commitment to provide our customers with the best network in the UK &ndash; now and in the future.

'Our continued investment into the network, including the launch of 50% faster 3G speeds through HSPA+, allows our customers to access the internet, social networks or download emails faster in more places than ever before.'

Smart Signal Sharing has been rolled out to all Orange and T-Mobile customers. Customer charges remain the same when using the other network's signal.

In November 2011, Everything Everywhere announced an investment of &pound;1.5 billion into the network, shortly followed by the announcement of the roll out of HSPA+ 21, or 3.5G, which now reaches 95% of the UK population.

Subject to regulatory approval from Ofcom, Everything Everywhere is ready and able to begin the roll out of 4G on a small scale by the end of the year.

About Smart Chimps

Smart Chimps is the creation of freelance editor, writer and media trainer, Heather McLean. Heather has been involved in telecoms journalism since 2001, specialising in mobile since 2002. Find out more